246      Benzoin  Odoriferum. — Asclepias  Incarnata.  {"^'^  ^me.'isjs'"'' 
OILS  FKOM  THE  BERRIES  OF  BENZOIN  ODORIFERUM,  NEES. 
BY   PERRY   MARTIN   GLEIM,   PH.  G. 
[Abstract from  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
The  author  obtained  from  sixteen  troyounces  of  the  berries,  dried 
and  reduced  to  coarse  powder,  by  exhausting  it  with  petroleum  benzin, 
seven  troyounces  of  an  oily  liquid  of  a  beautiful  deep  red  color,  very 
aromatic  in  taste  and  highly  odorous.  It  is  soluble  in  bisulphide  of 
carbon,  ether  and  chloroform,  and  partly  soluble  in  alcohol,  glycerin 
and  turpentine.  Its  specific  gravity  is  '925.  It  was  used  in  several 
cases  in  liniments,  acting  as  a  good  stimulant,  and  it  even  appears  to 
be  applicable  for  lubricating  purposes. 
By  distilling  eight  troyounces  of  the  fresh  berries  with  water,  four 
fluidrachms  of  a  colorless  volatile  oil  was  obtained,  having  the  specific 
gravity  '87  and  a  very  fragrant  odor,  resembling  somewhat  that  of  jes- 
samine. The  author  suggests  that  it  could  doubtless  be  used  with 
advantage  in  perfumery.* 
ASCLEPIAS  INCARNATA,  LIN. 
BY  JOSEPH   Y.  TAYLOR,  PH.  G. 
[Abstract  from  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
This  plant  is  known  under  the  names  of  rose-colored  silk-weed, 
white  Indian  hemp,  swamp  milkweed,  flesh-colored  Asclepias^  etc.,  and 
is  found  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  rhizome  and 
rootlets  are  officinal. 
A  cold  infusion  of  lOOO  grains  of  the  powdered  root  in  four  fluid- 
ounces  of  water,  had  a  decidedly  acrid  taste  and  a  slight  alkaline  reac- 
tion to  test-paper.  On  heating  it  a  coagulum  appeared  (albumen),  and, 
after  acidulation  with  muriatic  acid,  a  whitish  precipitate  occurred  with 
iodoyhdrargyrate  of  potassium  ;  the  alkaloid  thus  indicated  was  not  ob- 
tained in  a  pure  state.  Treatment  with  carbonate  of  sodium,  and  after- 
wards WMth  diluted  muriatic  acid,  produced  a  copious  gelatinous  pre- 
cipitate, which  was  partly  soluble  in  acetic  acid  ;  the  presence  of  a 
pectin  compound  was  thus  proven.  The  powder  exhausted  with  cold 
water  gave,  with  iodine,  evidence  of  the  presence  of  much  starch. 
The  above  figures  give  the  large  yield  of  volatile  oil,  equal  to  5  per  cent,  of  the 
weight  of  the  fresh  berries.  It  deserves  closer  investigation. — Ed.  Am.  Journ. 
Pharm. 
